Every year in January, we participate in the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend in Orlando, Florida to benefit the national Tourette Syndrome Association. We are excited to meet the challenge every year, especially for such a good cause. This weekend also provides us with the opportunity to meet and talk to many other people with Tourette’s.

Emily was diagnosed with TS several years ago. She has been through many ups and downs both physically and emotionally. It was with the help of the TSA and all of the great folks we have met through them that we have managed our way through the maze of this illness.

We were very blessed that this has been a wonderful year for Emily and our family. Emily was partnered with Casey, a service dog. Together they conquer Emily's daily battles with TS. We are very grateful to everyone who supported us then and now. Now it is our time to pay it back and pay it forward. Please help us do that.

Tourette Syndrome, an inherited neurobiological disorder, is characterized by involuntary sudden movements and vocalizations, known as tics. A common misconception is that those affected curse. In fact, less than 15 percent of those affected have what is known as coprolalia. What causes TS is not yet fully understood, and to date, a cure has not been found. It is estimated that one person out of a hundred has a mild form of the disorder and one in one thousand has a severe case of TS. TS can also be accompanied by other disorders such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Anxiety.

Every person we educate, every penny we raise helps TSA get "One Lap Closer To A Cure." Please sponsor us and donate to fund a worldwide cutting edge research program to identify the cause and find a cure for TS.

In addition to funding research, TSA's mission is to provide educational programs, awareness activities and services for people living with TS and their families.

You can make a difference . . . please join us in supporting a very important cause. Thank you for your support as always.